Apparatus for the production of working fluids.



0. KRAUS.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WORKING FLUIDS.

Patented May 22, 1917.

"2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. IT- I9I5.

0. KRA us.

7 APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WORKING ;F-LUID. APPLICATION FILED NOV. I7. l9l5.- O 1,227,275. Patented May 22, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED s'r Es PATENT'FOFFICE.

o'rroKRAUs, or new YoRK, n. Y., ASSIGNOR r KRAUs'RnGmR COMPANY, or imw YoRK, N. A CORPORATION OF NEW YoRK.

APPARATUS PoR THE PRODUCTION or WO KING FLUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern: Be it. known'that I, Or'ro KRAUs, a citizen of the United States of America, re-

borough of Manhattan, in the siding at the and State of New York, have city, county,

invented certain new and useful Improve-' ments in Apparatus for the Production and Utilization of Working Fluids, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the production and utilization of Working fluids and particularly to improvements in apparatus for the generation of a mixture of steam and the products of combustion of liquid fuel and in an apparatus for the utilization of that mixture as a working fluid; and an object of this invention is to provide a generating apparatus which will be simple in construction, comparatively cheap in manufacture and installation, and durable and eflicient in operation and use. A further object of this invention is to provide a well balanced mo- The arm j carries tor adapted for the utilization of the working fluid furnished by this generating apparatus.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of this invention and the best mode now known to me of applying that principle, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section through the generating apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig.

1; Fig. 3 illustrates a. modified form of the flue in the steam-generating chamber; Fig. 4 is an elevation; of the motor and the generating apparatus assembled; Fig. 5 is a section on the line=:5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4c; and Fig.7 is a sectional view of a modified form of a working cylinder. r

The compressed air is led/from an aircompressor A, through the pipe a, to the chamber 6, which is connected by the piping 0 with the air space at above the liquid fuel (as a hydrocarbon oil) contained in the fuel-tank e. The latter is connected, by the piping f, with the inlet-passage 9 leading to the liquid-fuel reservoir h, in which there is mounted a recessed float i carriedby an arm j pivotally fastened, as

at k, to the side'wallof the reservoir h. a needle-valve. m, the

free end of which controls the inner end voir k is put under air pressure. 7 I

feed pipe 0 extends downwardly from the of the fuel-inlet passage g An air passage b, hollow post a and opening a Patented May'22, 1917.

connect the chamber 1) with the annular chamber n" that surrounds the atomizer plug g; and this chamber a communicates, through the opening n*, hollow post n and hole It, with the air-space it above the liquid fuel in the reservoir h. Air under pressure flows, from the chamber b through the passage 2), ture n, to the annular chamber 40/ and thence, through the holemi", hollow post 'n andopening h, to the air-space h", whereby the oil contained in the fuel-reser- An oiltop of the fuel-reservoir h to below the surface of the oil contained therein and leads the oil forced upwardly through the feed-pipe 0 to the passage ;0 from which the oil flows into the chamber g, and thence through the atomizer-plug q, past the needle-valve 1' and through the nozzle '8.

By adjusting the needle-valve 7-, the amount chamber 2, from which the air flows under pressure to the combustion chamber 2. Air flows, under pressure, from the annular chamber 14., through the passages, and atomizes or breaks up the oil flowing through the'nozzle s so that this oil issues from the latter in the form of a fine spray. From the nozzle 8, the oil the combustion chamber 2 through a flaring or trumpet-shaped mouthpiece 3formed with holes t through which air flows; from the chamber 2 into the mouthpiece 3and hollow post a, and aperf is discharged into mingles with the oil-spray issuing from the nozzles. The holesv 4 are so arranged-L as to insure a proper mingling ofthe air with the atomized oil. Into the wall' 5 of the combustion. chamber 2, there isfitted' an electric igniter '6, the sparks from which serve to ignite the mixture of air and liquid fuel, which mixture then burns in the combustion chamber 2.

A water-pipe 7 'leads'from any suitable source of water supply, as a Water-pump, to a passage 7 and thence to an annular chamber 8 surrounding the atomizer q. The water fills this annular chamber '8 and thereby serves to water-j acket the atomizer g and to maintain the latter in a comparatively cool condition. From the annular chamber 8, the water flows through a water-passage 9 into a water-jacket 9 and thence through a water-passage 9* to a water-pipe 10 which extends downwardly through the vertically disposed flue 11, the'wall of which is formed with ports or outlet-openings 12. The mixture of burning gases and the products of combustion flow from the combustion chamber 2 through the opening 2", past the re-ige in the wall thereof-and through the outlet end 13 of the same, where the products of combustion meet the water which has flowed through the pipe 10 and collected in the bottom of the steam generator 14. The heated products of combustion, upon coming in contact with this water, breaks up and vaporizes the same; and the mixture of drops of water, vapor and the products of combustion flow upwardly through the steamgenerating chamber 14 filled with chains 15 or the like that serve to sub-divide the currents'of water, vapor, and products of combustion and to cause the intermingling thereof and to transfer heat from the products of combustion to the water and water vapor. The mixture finally escapes from the steamgenerating chamber 14 through an opening 16 in its upper end and flows thence, throu h the conduit 16, to the valve-chambers 1 of the two-cylinder engine B.

Connected to the crank-shaft 19 of the motor B are the lower ends of the rods 20 the upper ends of which carry the pistons 21. that reciprocate slidingly in the cylinders 18. In the specific embodiment .illustrated in the drawings, there are two power or working cylinders 18 and valve mechanisms therefor; butth'ey are similar in construction and a description of one of them will sufice as a description of both. To the top of the valve-chest 22 there is fastened a bracket-arm 23 pivotally connected with one .end of an arm 24, the other end of which is pivotally fastened to the upper end 25 of the valve-controlling rod 26the lower end of which carries a cam-roller 27 that restsmamas 32, between which and a bracket-arm 33 that extends laterally from the bracket 23, there is mounted a coil-spring 34 that tends to keep the inlet valve 31 sea-ted. Fastened to the valve-controlling rod 26 is one end of the valve-lever 35 fulcrumed at 36 on a post 37 that rises from the valve-chest 22; and, to the other end of this valve-lever 35 there is pivotally fastened the upper end of a valve-stem 38 the lower end of which carries the exhaust-valve 39. Between the valve-lever 35 and the top of the valve-chest there is mounted an expansion coil-spring 40 which tends to hold the exhaust-valve 39 against its seat. The valve-controlling rod 26. is provided at its lower end with a roller 27 that bears against the cam 28 fast upon the cam-shaft 29, In the modified form shown in Fig. '2', no exhaust valve is provided and the working cylinder 18 is formed with exhaust ports 41 which permit the exhaust gases to escape to the exhaust-pipe 42. The admission-valve mechanism is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 6, there is shown a section of the aircompressor cylinder 43, in which there reciprocates slidingly a piston 44 connected by the rod 45 with the crank-shaft 19. The spring-controlled air-admission valve marked 46 and the air-outlet valve is designated by the numeral 47. The crank-shaft 19 is formed at one end with clutch-teeth 48 with which engage the teeth 49 on the end of a crank-arm 50 idly mounted on the reduced or stubend 51 projecting from the crank-shaft l9; and, at the other end of the latter, there is mounted a flywheel 52. It is to be observed that there .is a nice balance between the thrust of the power pistons 20 and the resistance ofiered' by the air-compressor pistons 45, so that smoothness of running, so desirable in automobile construction, is attained.

In Fig. 3, the flue 11 is in the form of an imperforate cylinder'through which the products of combustion flow from end to end. A fusible safety-plug 14 is provided in the bottom of the steam-generating chamber 14. Should the supply of water fail, the heated products of-combustion would melt the fusible part of the plug 14 and, by their escape, would draw attention to the condition then existing and, in time, would cause the engine to stop. I

The apparatus may be started by the operators grasping the crank-arm 50 and.

engaging the teeth 49 thereof with the teeth 48 formed on the end of the crank-shaft 19. By turning the latter, by means of the crank 50, in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, the pistons 44 of theaircompressor A are caused to reciprocate and compressed air is forced past the outletvalves 47 inte the pipe a and chber b, no

60 the admission-valves 31, when the same are whence a part-of the air passes through the pipe to the air-space d above the oil in the oil-tank e. Another part of the air flows,"

' from the chamber I), through the air-passage b, hollow post n and opening n into the. annular chamber n and thence, through the hole 02*, hollow post n" and aperture h, into the air-space it above the oil in the oil-reservoir h, the, pressure of the, air in which forces the oil up through the oil-- feed pipe 0, passage ;0 and chamber 9'', past the needle-valve 1' and out through the nozzle 8. Air flowing from the annular cham-' ber n through the air-passage s breaks the oil up into a-fine spray which issues from the nozzle 8 into the trumpet-shaped mouthpiece 3, where it mingles with compressed air flowing from the chamber 6, through the valve-chamber t and past the valve w, into the chamber 12 and thence through the holes 4 into the mouthpiece 3. Sparks from the electric igniter 6 set fire to the combustible mixture of air and oil-vapor, which mixture thereupon burns, the products of combustion flowing I from the combustion-chamber 2 through the opening 2 and downwardly into the flue 11, from which the products of combustion escape through the bottom thereof and through the ports 12.. The ignition device 6 quickly becomes incandescent and serves, by its wires 6*, to reignite the gaseous mixture in case the flame be extinguished. Water flows through the annular water pipe 7 and passage 7. into the water-jacket 8 and thence through the water-passage 9, which leads to a waterjacket 9 that surrounds the combustion chamber 2. The water flows from the waterjacket 9 through an L-shaped passage 9* into a water-pipe 10 that extends almost vertically downward through the flue 11. Thus, the water is preheated in the waterjackets 8, 9 and in its travel through the passages 7 9, 9*, formed in the heated walls of the combustion-chamberv 2. The products of combustion, passing through the water in the bottom of thesteam-generating'chamber14, vaporize this water; and the products of combustion escaping through the ports 12 flow upwardly past the chains 15. The mixture of the products of combustion, Water and water-vapor flows upwardly past the chain-links 15, which serve to break the currents up into fine streams and to cause the same to intermingle and to transfer heat from the products of combustion to the water and water-vapor, transforming the latter,

.' at least in part, into super-heated steam.

'- The mixture, constituting theworking' fluid,

finally enters the working cylinders 18' past opened by the r'otation'of the cam-shaft 29. The pistons 21- are thereby forced .downwardly, driving the crank-shaft 19. Ex

haust takesf'place, when the exhaust-valves 39 are opened and the exhaust gases flow outwardly through the exhaust-pipe 42.

The following structural points deserve remark: By the provision of the waterjacket chamber 8 surrounding the fuel-atomizing device 9, the fuel flowing therethrough is kept cool and does not become decomposed therein; and the regulation of the amount of fuel supplied is' also simplified. The Water preheated in the chamber 8 flows through the passage 9 into the'annu-. lar Water -jacket chamber 9", where it is further heated, andthence through the L- shaped passage 9*, from the wall of which it takes up more heat. Finally, the preheated Water flows through the pipe 10 wherein it absorbs still more heat from the burning gases and the highly-heated products of combustion flowing through the flue 11'. The Water is, therefore, discharged into the bottom of the steam-generator 14' in a highly-heated condition. The water- Jacket .9" may, in an apparatus of small size, be dispensed with, in which case a passage will. be provided connecting the passages 9, 9*. The outer end of the passage- 9 is closed by a screw-plug 9", by removing which the operator is enabledto force any suitable cleaner (not shown) through the passage 9 and water jacket 9*, and into the passage 9*;

and, when the plug 14?: is,

removed, the cleaner may be forced through" the pipe 10 and thence intothepassa ear;

that is, the passages named maybe 0 eaned readily in the manner described. Similarly,

there isprovided, in the front wall of the combustion chamber 2, a passage 8" the outer end of which is closed by a screwplug 8 and the inner end of which com.- muni'cates with the annular air-chamber n.

air-passage 8; therefore, by removing the screw-plug s, the operator is enabled to force a suitable cleaner (as a wire) through the passages s", s, and to remove the dirt from these passages and the discharge or nozzle ends of the fuel-atomizing device g.

p This passage 8" is in direct line with the p By leading compressed airfrom the chamchamber 6, through thepassage I), post at, I passage n',-annular.air-cha'mber 11/, post n" and opening h. to the air-space h"abo. ,ve

a the oil'in the fuel-reservoir It. By means of the taperedvalve m controlled by' the float 1T, theflow of oil from the fuel-tank e is regulated and the level of theoil-in the fuel-reservoir h is kept substantially-comstant. It is to be noted that; the uppertend p "ofthe oil-passage p, discharges the oil at the reduced part 1 of the shank of the lower than the pressure of the air acting,

-in the air-space h", upon the surface ofthe liquid fuel in the fuel-reservoir h; hence,

,' the oil forced upwardly from the latter and through the nozzle 8 into the combustion chamber 2 is impelled thereinto under pneumatic pressure higher than the gaseous pressure acting in the combustion chamber 2.-

Again, the pressure of the air in the annular air-chamber n" and air-passage s is 1 higher than the pressure of the gases in the combustion chamber 2. It is to be observed that the compressed air acting upon the oil in the fuel-tank e and oil-reservoir h is derived from the same source (the chamber 'b) as the compressed air led to the combustion chamber 2 and the compressed air flowing through the air-passage s and serving to atomize the oil and to assist in driving the same into the combustion chamber 2 against the gaseous pressure therein existing. The mouthpiece 3 serves to separate the spray issuing from the nozzle 8 into the combustion chamber 2 from the envelop of fair which flows thereinto through the chamer 2. rations 4 in the mouthpiece 3, a proper commingling of the air'and oil in the mouthpiece 3 is produced. Furthermore, thevflaring character of the mouthpiece 3 insures that the air flowing through the chamber, a into the combustion chamber 2 will be directed toward the wall of the latter and will therefore serve as a pneumatic envelop for the oil-spray core, as hereinbefore stated. Again, the discharge end of the trumpet-shaped mouthpiece throttles the air flowing past and outside of that end and causes some of the air to pass through the holes 4. The wall of the combustion chamber '2 converges or becomes funnel-shaped at 2* so that the air and fuel become intimately mixed as they flow past the funnelshaped portion 2* of the combustion chamher 2 and pass through the opening 2.". The

reignition device 6 is provided with refractory wires 6* which become incandescent and-serve, together with the body portion of the device, to reignite the gaseous mixture, should the flame become extinished. Before complete combustion of all the oil occurs, the mixture is led downwardly through the flue 11, the area of the transverse section of which is less than the area of the transverse section of the combustion chamber 2. The steam-generator 14 surrounds the downwardly-extending flue 11, between which and the wall of the steam- I By suitably positioning the perfogenerator 14,, the chain-links 15 are interposed and serve to subdivide into fine the latter will be taken up by these chainlinks and will, therefore, not be lost If the water rises in the steam-generator 14,

the products of combustion may neverthe less escape from the flue 11 quietly and without substantially greater resistance for, the ports 12 permit the escape of the products of combustion otherwise than through the outlet end of the flue 11, lhe chainlinks 15 near the level of the ports 12'will i become highly heated by the burnin gases and products of combustion flowing t rou h the ports 12 and these chain-links 15 will later transfer the heat thus absorbedtothe Furthermore, in case'the Water should rise to an abnormal height, the escape of the products is facilitated by the provision of the ports 12. By removing the plug 0* from the T-coupling 0* in the 'ipe c, the operator is enabled to pass a c eaner downwardly through the assage b and the passages in line therewlth, for the purpose of cleaning the same of dirt and the like that may have accumulated therein.

The engine comprises an air-compressor A and a motor B, both of which act upon a common crank-shaft 19, the'air-compressorrods 45 being connected to one end thereof and the motor-rods 20 being connected to its other end; that is, the air-compressor A lies wholly on one side of the vertical midline of the engine and the motor B wholly on the other side thereof. Whatever may be the number of 'compressor-cy1inders43, the number of power-cylinders 18 will be the same; and the combined number of compressor and power cylinders may be two, four, six, eight or any higher even number. Each compressor rod 45 is fastened to a pair of cranks 4:5"- and each motor-rod 20 is fastened to a pair of cranks 20*. For each rotary air-compressor; the generating part of the apparatus could remain the same in:

this case. That is, the pistons in the outside motor and compressor cylinders and the cranks connected with said outside pistons are in the same position relative to each other, while the intermediate pistons and.

the cranks connected thereto are also. in the same position relative to each other.

I'claimr 1. An apparatus of the character described including a water-jacketed combustion chamber; and a water-jacketed fuel atomizing device in communication therewith; the water-jacket about said device being separate from but incommunication with the water-jacket around said combus I tion chamber and the water flowing from the first-named water-jacket to the last-named water-jacket. a 2. An apparatus of the character. de-

scribed including a water jacketed combustion chamber; and a water-jacketed fuel-. atomizi'ng device in communication therewith; the water-jacket about said device being in communication at its top with'the Witnesses; A

top of the water-jacket around said combustion chamber and the water flowing from the first-named water-jacket to the last.-

named water-jacket.- g

.3. .An apparatus of the-character described including a. horizontally-disposed combustion chamber; astea-m generator the lower end of. which extends downwardly from the outlet endof said chamber and is in communication therewith"; and means for r leading water into sa1d lowerendi An apparatus of the character described including a horizontally-disposed combustion chamber; a downwardly-extending'steam generator; and chain-links in the latter.

5. An apparatus of the character described including a horizontally-disposed combustion chamber; a substantially ver- 'tically-disposed steamgenerator connected therewith; a flue which is mounted within sa1d generator and 1s in communication with the outlet end of said combus Chamber the outlet end of said flue lying near the lower end of said steam generator; and

means for leading'the water to the latter. Signed at the borough of Manhattan,

city, county, and State. of New .York, this fifteenth day of November, A. D. 1915, in

the presence of the twoundersigned witnesses. A I I orro KRAUS.

JAMES HAMILTON, M. E. WOARDELL.- 

